The Ooye of Iwoye-Ketu, Oba Joel Alaye, Alaja IV, has commended the moral conduct of students of the University, describing it as exemplary and worthy of emulation.

Speaking during a congratulatory visit to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Prof. Felix Salako, over his appointment, the Monarch disclosed that he was highly impressed with the conduct of FUNAAB students, who are undergoing the Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS) in his border-town domain in Iwoye-Ketu, Ogun State.

Oba Alaye said he had been personally monitoring the conduct of the students, alongside members of the local vigilante group and they were found to be “cool-headed and mindful of their mission to my town”.

He pointed out that successive batches of students, who came to Iwoye-Ketu for the Farm Practical Year Scheme were not in any way associated with anti-social behaviours, such as cultism or violence.

The Royal Father stressed that despite the attendant problems of acute shortage of potable water and poor Global Service of Mobile Communication (GSM) network in his domain, the students had never, for once, taken advantage of the anomaly to foment trouble.

The Monarch, therefore, called on the University authorities, to as a matter of urgency, assist his community’s quest for the provision of potable water, especially now that the students had swelled the population.

The traditional ruler recalled that while the DVC (D) was the Director of COBFAS, he was able to foster a cordial relationship between the community and the University within a short period of time, adding that the enduring legacy had spurred him to pay the courtesy call.

The Royal Father said one thing that he so much loved and admired about Prof. Salako, while serving as the Director of COBFAS was his good human relations, stressing that “he’s such a good mixer, you won’t even know he’s a Professor, with the way he mixed freely with my farmers and subjects”. He added that his appointment as the DVC (D) was well-deserved.

Oba Alaye gave his royal blessings for the continued success of the Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun-led administration, solicited for a better co-operation between the University and his community.

Responding, the DVC (Development), Prof. Salako commended, the Royal Father for inspiring him and helping in fostering the existing harmonious relationship between the University and the community.

He thanked Oba Alaye and his subjects for according FUNAAB students with open arms and solicited for better co-operation in the years to come.

Responding to the Monarch’s request for University’s assistance in the area of provision of potable water, Prof. Salako disclosed that the Vice-Chancellor had already taken a bold step in that direction, by approving the provision of borehole facilities for the community, assuring that work will soon commence on the project.

The DVC (D) appealed to Oba Alaye to continue to ensure that the students maintained proper conduct and never hesitate to report anyone of them that misbehaved, to University authorities.

He expressed confidence in the ability of his successor, Dr. Joe Atungwu, to take COBFAS to greater heights, as he implored the Monarch to extend his hands of fellowship to him.